The Spy Devils by Joe Goldberg (top rated books of all time .TXT) 📕

media. Pressure and embarrass him, so he must step down and leave the country. That will give me enough to convince him I should take over the businesses.”

“You think so? How I am suppose to do that.”

“I have all the materials you will need here.” She indicated a leather satchel by her chair. “Implications of illegal arms trading. Murders and extortions. There are videos and audio files. More than enough.”

“Won’t that hurt your business? Having him exposed like that?”

“Mr. Bridger,” she said, with a look of amusement, “this is Ukraine. The people know the government and oligarch class are corrupt. It is expected. But when a global high-profile and respected group such as your Spy Devils tells the world, it will have much more credibility. It will be hard for him. Even his judges and politicians will abandon him quickly. After all, he will no longer be able to pay them bribes to control them—unless I do. He will need me.”

Bridger gave her a look of approval. “Nice plan. What’s in it for me?”

“You will receive this case as payment for your efforts,” she said, pointing to the Hillcrest case at her feet. “I never wanted it. It was my father who wanted to take it from the Americans. He stole it before he could give it to a Chinese government official.”

“Chinese government official? Which Chinese government official?”

“Minister Chen, I believe. The American was bringing the case to him. Did you not know?”

“No, I didn’t know.” Bridger narrowed his eyes. “Minister Chen?”

“Yes.” She crossed one black boot over the other at the ankle. “I would forever be in your debt.”

Bridger’s eyes did the involuntary glance at her legs.

“I supposed if I just take the case and walk out that door, the security guys waiting outside would be a hindrance.”

“Of course. What is in it?” She asked. “Pavlo was unable to open it. Do you know?”

“Nope.”

Bridger rubbed his hands through his greasy hair. He got a whiff of his armpit. He smelled like a lab experiment gone wrong.

“Okay,” he finally answered.

“Thank you.” She picked up the satchel, walked to Bridger, and handed it and the folder to him. “I will take you on your word.”

“You can take it to the bank!” Bridger laughed, as he looked around. Ira also laughed, placing her hand on his shoulder. He felt a tingle.

“There should be a bag for this. Have you seen it?” Bridger asked.

“I do not know.”

Bridger found it in a corner. He slid the case into the bag and zipped it shut. He turned and started for the door. He stepped around Pavlo, who was still lying unconscious, then stopped.

“Oh, Olek is in jail in Cyprus. We got a little—creative—with him. We didn’t hurt him, too bad, I hope. Tell him we are truly sorry. Nothing personal. I apologize. Oh, but we aren’t giving the boat back!”

She hesitated, then said, “Well…thank you.”

“See ya, Pavlo. Thanks for the help. Maybe we will meet again under different circumstances.”

Bridger walked through the door wondering if they could get through the day without any additional surprises.

44

Beast is Dead

Kyiv, Ukraine

When he reached the Skoda, Bridger got in and handed the bulky bag to Peter.

“You got it!” Peter bear-hugged the bag that contained Hillcrest. “I can’t believe it. This is great!”

Then Peter realized the car wasn’t moving. Bridger wasn’t giving orders to the Spy Devils. “What’s going on?” Peter asked after nervously waiting alone in the car.

“Nothing,” was Bridger’s one-word leave me the fuck alone answer.

Within seconds, he pulled the Skoda into the early morning traffic to start his surveillance detection route.

Bridger checked his phone for messages. Nothing from Chapel. No safe house location. No message from Beast. His senses were firing on all cylinders.

He opened his Signal secure application and sent a message to Chapel: Have it. Where are we meeting?

Bridger then launched a group voice call and selected the speaker on his phone’s audio controls.

“Any word from Beast?” Bridger asked. He felt his pulse rise when no one answered. “Demon, find him.”

“Right,” Demon replied.

“Be careful, okay?” Bridger said with genuine concern. The fatigue was getting to him. His mind was not focused, and his emotions were too close to the surface. He looked at Peter, who was still clutching the bag, his eyes half-closed and his head resting against the window.

“Have you heard where the meeting is?” Snake asked.

“I don’t know. We are on an SDR. I’m contacting Chapel. I’ll send a message when I know. Get someplace and be ready to move.”

Bridger did not like the idea of going anywhere blind. Operationally, he would always have the team check the location in advance. A Devilbot would be in the air. They would know the in and out. He had none of that.

“Can I get some coffee while he is Beast hunting? I saw a place near here,” Imp asked.

“I want some, too,” Beatrice said.

“I could use a bagel…with a schmear,” Milton added.

“You all suck,” was Imp’s response.

“Get to work. Demon, let me know,” Bridger said, then cut off the call.

“Your team is insane and irritating at times,” Peter said, lifting his head off the window.

Bridger’s phone gave out three electronic beeps. He let out a tired sigh when he saw the ‘M’ caller ID.

Reluctantly, he hit the answer and speakerphone buttons.

“I’m a little busy, May. Can I call you back?”

“No, and can you ever be polite?” she asked.

“That was polite.” He checked his mirror for any familiar cars. He took the next right turn, looking to see if any followed.

“You have it?”

“Yes.”

“Good,” she answered, then said nothing else.

“What do you want, May?” He checked his mirror and did a quick lane change—which drew angry honks from several cars. He turned the car down a side street.

“I just wanted the update—” she paused, “—and to see how you are doing.”

Bridger’s face creased with a look of confusion.

“How am I doing? You are calling at this moment to ask me how I am doing? Well, I have a headache. Probably because I’ve only eaten